If you have have been libeled or slandered, call us at Cannon Hadfield Stieben & Doutt LLC to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer Fort Collins, CO offers. One of our personal injury attorneys can review your defamation case without charge.

A seasoned Fort Collins, CO personal injury lawyer from Cannon Hadfield Stieben & Doutt LLC can protect your rights. If you’ve been defamed it can have a devastating affect on your career and personal life. Nobody has the right to libel or slander your good name with false statements. Here is what you need to know about defamation.

What is defamation?

Defamation is any kind of statement that injures someone’s reputation. There are two kinds of defamation:

Libel: when the injurious statement is published in written form

Slander: when the injurious statement is spoken

Is defamation against the law?

No. A person can’t be arrested or charged for defamation because it’s not considered a crime. However, defamation is a civil wrong. That means that someone can sue someone else for defamatory statements. A seasoned personal injury lawyer Fort Collins, CO residents choose from Cannon Hadfield Stieben & Doutt LLC can represent you. Our attorneys are experienced and successful litigators.

What about free speech and the first amendment?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to separate defamation from free speech. After a case review from a personal injury lawyer Fort Collins, CO residents recommend, you’ll have a clearer understanding. An attorney can apply your unique situation to the law and determine if you have a strong case.

What criteria must be met for a defamation lawsuit to move forward?

When reviewing your case, a personal injury lawyer in Fort Collins, CO from Cannon Hadfield Stieben & Doutt will want to see if it meets all of these criteria:

Somebody made a statement about someone else. It could have been spoken, written, etc.

The statement they made was published. In this context, published simply means that a third party was exposed to the statement.

As a result, the statement harmed the person it was about. Harm can be in almost any form. One example may be that they lost their job as a result.

The statement was not true. If it’s true then it’s not defaming the person. In a defamation lawsuit, the plaintiff will need a personal injury lawyer Fort Collins, CO provides who can prove the defendant’s statement was false. This is why it’s critically important to choose a lawyer who understands defamation laws and is experienced in personal injury law.

The statement was not privileged. In some circumstances, a person is protected from getting sued for defamation. For example, if someone testifies at at a trial and says something libelous or slanderous about someone, they can’t be sued. This is because trial participants are privileged and therefore protected from a defamation lawsuit.

If someone has defamed your good name, you have the right to pursue damages. Your personal and professional reputation demand it. Contact us at Cannon Hadfield Stieben & Doutt today to meet with a personal injury lawyer Fort Collins, CO community members rate highly for legal guidance.

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